Uber Eats Improving Access to More Than 50 Stores
Uber Eats is looking to extend its service to a wider base of customers.
The popular delivery app has announced that it will be adding over 50 new stores to the approved list of retailers that accept assistance programs like SNAP and EBT.
"We believe that everyone deserves the convenience of delivery, and with this growing list of merchant partners we can continue to provide access to the fresh food that families and individuals need, especially those without access to reliable transportation for whom food delivery can be a lifeline," said Hashim Amin, Uber North America's head of grocery and retail delivery.
Retailers that will now accept SNAP and EBT through Uber Eats include 7-Eleven, CVS, Duane Reade, Family Dollar, Giant Eagle, Safeway, Shoppers, Walgreens and Wegmans.
The app will include a special icon to let users know which stores accept SNAP and EBT. Uber says that is is also planning to add more retailers to accept benefits in the coming months, and that negotiations to do so are already underway.
Customers will be able to access their benefits and payments in the app through Forage, a USDA-approved company that processes benefits administered by the federal government.
Ofek Lavian, Forage's co-founder and CEO, says that the company is "proud" to help more families utilize their benefits through the app and have access to the food they need.
“This expansion gives SNAP recipients access to tens of thousands of new stores—from national chains to local grocers—all through the Uber Eats app,” Lavian said.
In an effort to incentivize users to try the new service, Uber Eats will also offer free delivery on users' first three orders with SNAP benefits.
The expansion into SNAP and EBT follows Uber Eats' continued growth over the last few years. Several major retailers have debuted on the platform in the last several months, including craft store Michael's, the Home Depot, Petco, Dick's Sporting Goos and Five Below.
We'll see what the future holds for Uber Eats, but the new move to accept both SNAP and EBT shows that the company is looking to expands its reach to as many poential new customers as possible.